Top 10 Fastest Muscle Cars of 1973

Thanks to fuel efficiency measures enacted by the Federal Government and Insurance companies levying higher premiums on muscle cars, 1973 muscle cars lost a lot of their muscle. 

However, that didn’t stop auto manufacturers from producing the best-performing muscle cars they could given the circumstances.

In order to compile this list, I used historic data from 1973 auto magazines to determine the ranking of all vehicles listed below. All sources are listed below.

Discover all the details of the top 10 fastest 1973 muscle cars, including:

• Make
• Model
• Cubic Inches
• Horsepower
• Torque
• Quarter Mile Times
• Quarter Mile Speed
• Source
• Production Numbers

Let’s take a look at the top 10 fastest muscle cars of 1973, shall we?

Fastest 1973 Muscle Cars

Pontiac Trans Am 455 SD

The fastest muscle car of 1973 was the Pontiac Tran Am powered by a 455 V-8 with 8.4:1 compression, 290 horsepower, and 395 lb-ft torque.

In the June 1972 issue of Hot Rod magazine, a 73 Trans Am 455 SD ran a best of 13.54 seconds at 104.3 miles per hour in the quarter-mile. 

Pontiac produced only 252 455 Super Duty Trans Ams in 1973, 72 backed by a 4-speed manual transmission and 180 with an automatic. 

Key Specs

Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 350

In second place is the 73 Camaro Z/28 powered by a 350 CID V-8 with 8.5:1 compression, 245 horsepower, and 280 lb-ft torque. 

In the July 1973 issue of Car Craft magazine, a 73 Camaro Z/28 produced a 14.69-second quarter-mile pass traveling at 96 miles per hour. 

Chevrolet produced 11,574 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28s in 1973, all hardtop models. 

Key Specs

Pontiac GTO 455

Third place goes to the 1973 Pontiac GTO powered by a 455 CID V-8 with 8.0:1 compression, 250 horsepower, and 380 lb-ft torque. 

In the August 1973 issue of High-Performance Cars magazine, a 73 GTO ran a best of 14.70 seconds traveling at 91 miles per hour. 

Pontiac produced 4,806 GTOs in 1973, with only 25 coupes (all manual transmissions) and 3,793 sport coupes (926 with manual transmission and 2,867 with an automatic transmission) powered by the 455 CID V-8.

Key Specs

Oldsmobile 4-4-2 455

In fourth place is the 1973 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 powered by a 455 CID V-8 with 8.5:1 compression, 270 horsepower, and 370 lb-ft torque. 

In the April 1973 issue of Hi-Performance magazine, a 73 4-4-2 ran a best of 14.90 seconds in the quarter-mile, traveling at 97.3 miles per hour. 

Oldsmobile produced 9,797 4-4-2s in 1973, with 9,546 Cutlass S coupes and 251 and Cutlass coupes. 

Key Specs

Plymouth ‘Cuda 340

Fifth place goes to the 1973 Plymouth ‘Cuda powered by a 340 CID V-8 with 8.5:1 compression, 240 horsepower, and 295 lb-ft torque. 

In the March 1973 issue of Super Stock and Drag Illustrated magazine, a 73 ‘Cuda ran a best of 15.16-seconds in the quarter-mile, traveling at 94.1 miles per hour. 

Plymouth produced 10,626 ‘Cudas. All were hardtops. 

Key Specs

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Dodge Charger SE 440

Sixth place goes to the 73 Dodge Charger SE powered by a 440 CID V-8 with 8.2:1, 280 horsepower, and 380 lb-ft torque. 

In the May 1973 issue of Motor Trend magazine, a 73 Charger SE ran a best of 15.2 seconds in the quarter-mile, traveling at 92.9 miles per hour. 

Dodge produced 119,318 Dodge Chargers in 1973. It is unknown how many were powered by a 440 CID V-8.

Key Specs 

Buick GS Stage 1 455

In seventh place was the 1973 Buick GS powered by the Stage 1 455 CID V-8 with 8.5:1 compression, 270 horsepower, and 390 lb-ft of torque. 

In the July 1973 issue of Motor Trend magazine, a 73 GS ran a best of 15.30 seconds in the quarter-mile, traveling at 90 miles per hour. 

Buick produced 6,637 Buick GS models in 1973, with only 728 with the Stage 1 455.

Key Specs

AMC Javelin AMX 401

Eighth place goes to the 1973 AMC Javelin AMX powered by the 401 CID V-8 with 8.5:1 compression, 255 horsepower, and 345 lb-ft torque. The AMX was the mightiest of all AMC Muscle Cars in 1973.

Relative to the model year, the ’73 AMX was no slouch in the street, either. In the June 1973 issue of Road Test magazine, they ran a best of 15.4 seconds in the quarter-mile, traveling at 91 miles per hour. 

While 1973 AMX didn’t set the highest watermark for production numbers, AMC produced a respectable 5,707 Javelin AMXs, with 1,420 powered by a 401 CID V-8. 

Key Specs

Chevrolet Laguna 454

In ninth place is the 1973 Chevrolet Laguna powered by a 454 CID V-8 with 8.5:1 compression, 245 horsepower, and 375 lb-ft torque.

In the May 1973 issue of Motor Trend magazine, a 454 powered 73 Laguna ran a best of 15.7 seconds in the quarter-mile, traveling at 88.4 miles per hour.

Chevrolet produced 42,941 Lagunas. It is unknown how many were powered by a 454 CID V-8. 

Key Specs

Pontiac Grand Am 455

In tenth place is the 1973 Pontiac Grand Am powered by a 455 CID V-8 with 8.0:1 compression, 250 horsepower, 380 lb-ft torque.

In the May 1973 issue of Motor Trend magazine, they recorded a best of 15.7 seconds in the quarter-mile, traveling at 88 miles per hour. 

Pontiac produced 34,445 Gran Ams in 1973. It is unknown how many had a 455 CID V-8 from the factory. 

Key Specs

Take Our Poll!

Well, there you have the fastest muscle cars of 1973. Next up are the fastest muscle cars from 1974, where you will also be able to vote on your favorite.

Ryan Wheaton

Ryan has owned muscle cars since 1986 and currently owns a 1972 Dodge Charger Rallye. He combines passion and experience to create engaging content for fellow muscle car enthusiasts. In 2018, he founded Muscle Cars Illustrated, authoring hundreds of articles on tips, history, and trends in the muscle car industry. He attends national car shows, auctions, and museums to stay current with the latest developments in the muscle car industry.

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